"Gathering, gathering along the narrow street, came a hollow solemn blast. From each side of the door there were constant droppings. Higgins crept up carefully upon the stones, his glassy eyes, one half-open, staring upwards to the sky. Owing to the position in which he had been lying, the fore part of his head was bald."

Continuing the abridged version of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South - abridged on the principle of leaving out all the important

bits. Nicholas Higgins maltreats some children. Margaret is investigated by the police. An evil temper takes possession of Mr Thornton.